In a small bowl mix spices. Rub chicken with spices. Add 4 garlic cloves and quartered onion to the cavity of the chicken.

Put onions, carrots and celery on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add chicken. No need to add water, the chicken will make it’s own juice.

Cook for 8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high.

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Day 2Cabbage SoupBeer Bread

Recipe: Cabbage SoupMy grandmother made this soup on top of the stove. It has an old world, cooked-all-day flavor and goodness. Now I have tweaked her recipe to make it in the slow cooker. Adjust this recipe to fit your slow cooker. I have a great big one, so all of this will fit.2 tsp. vegetable oil1 LARGE head cabbage ( or 1 medium and 1 small). chopped1 large onion, peeled and chopped3-4 bone-in pork chops ( Oh, I’m such a carnivore… 4 please!)water1 can tomato soup3 TBS butter1/4 cup flour

In a large skillet add oil and heat over medium high heat. Add onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Put onions in slow cooker.

Brown pork chops in the skillet on both sides. Add the pork chops to the slow cooker.Add chopped cabbage and just cover with water. Add tomato soup and stir to incorporate. Cook on low for 6 hours. Do not overcook. Cabbage should be soft but not mushy.

Take out pork chops. Pull apart meat and discard bones.

Heat butter in a skillet and add flour. Cook for about 4 minutes, until flour is slightly golden. Add 2 cups of soup liquid to skillet and whisk to incorporate without lumps. Add slurry to soup. Add meat. Cook on high for 1/2 hour or more, until soup is slightly thickened.

Recipe: Beer BreadThis is a StoneGable favorite!!!!! Easy and so delicious. Click HERE and find Beer Bread at the bottom of the post.

WednesdaySalmon PinwheelsFettuccine With Creamy Spinach SauceBaby Field Greens With Dried Cherries, Spiced Pecans and Bleu in a Cherry Vinaigrette

Meanwhile, heat oil on a large skillet. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Add spinach and tomatoes. Add salt and pepper. Cook until spinach is just wilted, about 5 minutes.

Add fettuccine, ricotta cheese and 1/4 cup reserved liquid. Cook, tossing fettuccine until heated through and fettuccine is coated. Add a dash of nutmeg and stir in. Add enough pasta cooking liquid to make a creamy sauce if it is too thick.

Add sugar to a skillet on low heat and carefully melt sugar. Add cayenne and salt. Mix. Add pecan and coat with sugar mixture. Turn out onto a parchment line baking sheet. When pecans have cooled break apart and keep in an airtight container.

Recipe: Cherry ViniagretteI had this wonderful dressing at a dinner I was speaking at last week and it was love at first bite. I am a cherry-a-holic!

Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onions and sprinkle with sugar. Stir. Cook until lightly browned and reduced, about 10-15 minutes. Push onions to the middle and place the kielbasa in the pan around the onions. Brown, about 5 minutes on each side.

Pour in the beer and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until kielbasa is heated through, about 10 minutes. Transfer kielbasa and onions to a platter and keep warm.

Increase heat and boil the sauce until it is reduced and syrupy. Serve sauce on the side.

FridayRoast BeefMashed PotatoesGreen Beans Sauteed in Garlic Oil

SaturdaySpiral Ham Baked Sweet PotatoesRoasted Broccoli

Note: I am making a big spiral ham. Easy and so delicious.We will have a geat meal and the large amount of leftovers will be used for sandwiches for my guest who are tired of turkey leftovers.

Then I’ll take the soup bone and freeze it until I make bean soup for Christmas weekend!

Sunday: Soup DayMushroom BisqueGarlic Bread

Recipe: Mushroom BisqueThis is my sister-in-law’s recipe. We had it recently on a visit. It is delicious!!!!! She served it at a lovely dinner party. I had to restrain myself from licking the bowl!

I am doubling this recipe and keeping it for the Thanksgiving weekend. All of my family will be wild over this great soup! I’ll just heat it up, serve it with great bread (I’ll probably make beer bread) and we will have a wonderful lunch.

Heat the oil oil in a dutch oven and add mushroom. Saute aprox. 6 minutes or until mushrooms are soft. Do not let them brown.Add stock, bullion cubes and milk.Bring to a boil and add the warm roux. Whisk it in so it dissolves. No lumps!Add cream, salt and pepper.Let simmer for a half hour. Do not boil.Saute the diced mushroom caps and add to the soup.

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Thanksgiving Countdown

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You should be well on your way, doing a little everyday, to a less stressed Thanksgiving!

Over the next couple of days make a list of all the things left to do, except the cooking. Don’t forget things like getting or making extra ice, having enough chairs, buying extra paper products like toilet paper and tissues, buying sterno if you have warmers and checking the quantity of glasses and mugs you have.

Continue putting the things you will need for your Thanksgiving table in dish pans. I will set my table early, probably next Sunday or Monday and I’ll just reach for my dish pans and have everything together! Easy!

Make a list of all Thanksgiving food and what you will serve it in. Will you have a buffet or sit down dinner? Don’t forget condiment dishes, butter dishes, salt and pepper shakers, and all the serving utinsils that go along with them.

I serve a Thanksgivng buffet, so everyone can have their favorites on their plates. I use stainless steal warmers for the turkey and stuffing. I have large covered casserole dishes with stands and tea light that the green bean casserole and sweet potaoes will be made in and then kept warm. And my slow cookers are put into service, filled with mashed potatoes and gravy.

This is a great time to clean out your coat closet! Mine certainly gets quite cluttered. Take out everything that does not belong in there and throw away, give away and put away. Clean the floor, shelves and the door. Put a soft smelling airfreshner on the shelf and make sure you have plenty of hangers. I have baskets on my shelf for hats, mittens and gloves. Also put a small plastic trash can on the floor for umbrellas.

Won’t it feel so good to donate all of those forgotten items to Goodwill or a shelter.. and be able to hang everyone’s coat IN YOUR CLEAN CLOSET!

Yvonne, your recipes sound heavenly. I love the idea of Thanksgivng buffets. It makes it easier and you can create a beautiful display. I am your newest follower. I hope you will follow me as well. I am the lady who created the blog for Pinky. I thought she should have one, so I made it for her, name and all. Linda

I just had the most amazing wild mushroom soup at a local restaurant and have been wanting to find a recipe that was exceptional. I am going to try yours. Sounds like I need to stay all week and eat at your house. What a lucky family.

OK, just finished putting the chicken in the slow cooker and now I’m off to shop with Cusine Kathleen at Christmas Tree Shop. We have 20% off coupons! And when I get home I’ll have a wonderful dinner waiting for us. Thanks for the inspiration.

Hello Yvonne,thank you for your sweet comment. You have always so heplful tipps. I think I will use your tipps for Christmas and we will have a very nice feast without stress. It is really a good feeling to be well organized. Thank you for your help.Greetings, Johanna

I almost hated to read this post because I’m on the “I’ve spent too much time in Florida eating in restaurants” diet. In other words, all of my traveling the past 6 months (and the stress eating) have packed on a few unwanted pounds. I’m taking the next few weeks before Christmas to try to lose a few of them.

The mushroom soup sounds so good. I love anything mushroom and I love a good mushroom soup. I’ve never bought the fat free half and half. So, you can’t tell a difference in a recipe using it?

Yvonne, I’m telling you, we think a lot alike. Last week I cleaned out the coat closets, took the old stuff to goodwill, and put new hangers in. I also got all of my table linens washed and ready! Sometime when you’re not too busy (lol) would you give us some more information on pommegranites? How do you select one at the grocery store? How do you cut it? What other ways do you use them in cooking? I’ve always been intrigued by them but have never used one other than for decorative purposes.

Welcome to my blog and my life!

I’m an empty nester living with my wonderful husband Bobby at StoneGable. Our home often feels like a hotel, filled with family and friends. I love all things HOME AND GARDEN! Well, except ironing and maybe cleaning the garage! I’m a life-long learner and am on a quest for new things to learn and do… especially when it concerns anything domestic.Living by grace, I strive to be positive and purposeful… living large and loving all those who cross my path.